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Friday, March 3, 1989 / University Daily Kansan
Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Bill would reinstate freedoms taken in Hazelwood decision
A bill before the Kansas Legislature would reinstate freedom of speech.
LIKE many people, you may have been under the impression that the First Amendment of the Constitution guaranteed freedom of expression. But the 1988 Hazelwood v. Kuhlmire Supreme Court decision said that freedom of speech for high school students was not protected by the First Amendment.
A bill being heard today on the floor of the Kansas House of Representatives would place restrictions on the Hazelwood decision. It would disallow the abridging of freedom of the press for high school students. That means that no administrator or adviser could censor a high school publication.
It has been argued that high school students are too young to understand what should be in print and what should not. But this argument misses the point of student journalism.
Journalism students, on any level, are first and foremost, students. Although their homework might be more visible than the homework of students in other programs, their products are learning devices.
One of the best ways to learn is to make mistakes. But if censorship is exercised, high school students are not given the chance to realize the implications of their actions. Many people complain that journalists lack that basic understanding.
The press in the United States has been called the fourth branch of government. Like it or not, it has great influence on this country. But if decision-making ability is taken away from students, they may never learn the scope of that responsibility.
Students who are forced administration are often taught that there is no way to fight crime, more accurately, the principal's office.
The forefathers of the United States wanted a country in which people could speak out if those in power were doing things the public didn't believe in. But if the bill in the House is not passed, a high school administration could practice prior restraint, which is an unconstitutional action on any other level.
If the bill before the Legislature fails, the state of Kansas will be sending a terrible message to its students: The First Amendment doesn't apply to you. It was written only for the people who are already in charge.
Jill Jess for the editorial board
Cat Stevens' new message is far cry from 'Peace Train'
If you want to sing out, sing out. But don't be surprised if someone wants to kill you for it.
That's the mixed message Yusuf Islam, a k.a. love-child folk singer Cat Stevens, has been sending.
Last week, Yusuf stepped off his "Peace Train" and backed the Ayatollah Ruhholll Khomeini's $5.2 million plea for the death of Salman Rushdie, writer of "The Satanic Verses." Rushdie's book has offended many Muslims. Radio stations around the country, including Kansas City's KCF-XF-M 101, are taking a stand against Yusuf's hypocrisy and banning his songs from the airwaves.
the banning began shortly after Yusuf said last week, "The Koran makes it clear. If someone defames the prophet, then he must die."
Those words are a far cry from Cat Stevens' long-time search for truth and peace. In 1984, he wrote in a message to his fans, "I believe that each person must choose which path he or she wishes to follow, but if more people knew the truth about Islam then . . . the chance for real peace would be far greater."
If Yusuf wants to condemn a man to death for expressing his views, radio stations have every right to peacefully protest. The radio stations should be commended.
Cindy Harger for the editorial board
The editors in this column are the opinion of the editorial board. The editorial board consists of Julie Adam, Karen Boring, Jeff Euston, James Fuarqu, Cindy Harger, Jennifer Hinkle, Grace Hobson, Jill Jess, Mark McCormick and Mark Tilford.
News staff
Julie Adam...Editor
Karen Boring...Managing editor
Jill Jess...News editor
Deb Gruver...Planning editor
James Farquhar...Editorial editor
Elaine Sung...Campus editor
Tom Stinson...Sports editor
Jamie Swainkowski...Photo editor
Dave Eames...Graphics editor
Noel Gerdes...Arts/Features editor
Tom Eblen...General manager, news adviser
Business staff
Debra Cole...Business manager
Pamela Noe...Retail sales manager
Kevin Martin...Campus sales manager
Scott Fragar...National sales manager
Michelle Garland...Promotion manager
BradLenhart...Sales development manager
Linda Prokop...Product manager
Drexel Martin...Asst. production manager
Kim Coleman...Co-op sales manager
Cari Cressler...Classified manager
Jeanne Hines...Sales and marketing adviser
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Bill might set up voluntary draft
T the proposed Citizenship and National Service Act of 1899 has a powerful set of sponsors behind it. The bill, which would replace current federal education benefits with vouchers earned through military or civilian national service, has been introduced in both the House and the Senate this legislative session.
Sam Nunn, D-Ga., introduced it in the Senate, and Dave McCurdy, D-Doka, introduced it in the House. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., also plans to introduce a separate bill for "National Guard-style of civilian service" on a part-time basis.
basis.
The concept has the support of the Democratic Leadership Council in the Congress and individuals such as John Glenn and Senate majority leader George Mitchell. Thus far no Republicans have publicly endorsed it.
Let's consider what the Democrats intend and some of the potential problems.
One goal of the Democratic leadership, autonomy being a traditional Democratic virtue, is to save money. The likelihood of this happening is difficult to evaluate, since few figures have been mentioned. Federal student aid now totals more than $8 billion a year. According to U.S. News & World Report, "The Democratic Leadership Council projects that a civilian corps of 800,000 volunteers will be needed for federal government $8 billion a year." Additional costs for military service volunteers would probably bring the total to a figure at least equal to that of current federal student aid.
McCurdy suggested that current programs were not of much use because college costs were so high that available grants and loans didn't cover the cost of attending a big-time school such as the University of Oklahoma. Students end up with a lot of indebtedness, and the federal
Dick
Lipsey
Staff columnist
government still has to pay off about $1.5 billion a year in student loan defaults. Nunn's estimated cost is $5 billion, plus the cost of the tax-free vouchers.
There also is no indication of how the provisions of the bill would be implemented. There would have to be some sort of mechanism for registering the volunteers, finding something for them to do, recording the fact that they have done it and paying them. The intent of the bill is that civilian service be performed on a local basis, but the history of Democratic policy proposals suggests that some new bureaucracy will inevitably find its way into existence and prove as resistant to destruction as the snail darter.
In addition to providing socially useful civilian service, the DLC wants to ensure that enough people join the military to keep force levels at least close to congressional authorizationizes. Since short-term population projections show a decline in numbers of 18- to 22-year-olds, this would be difficult or expensive (or both) to achieve under the current system. Rep. Sonny Montgomery, D-Miss., chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, is opposed to the bill on the grounds that "it-if-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it." He thinks the current system works just fine and that the civilian service option would only hinder military recruiting.
Even though the Pentagon is just across the
river from Capitol Hill, it appears that the military has not been consulted on the issue of its recruiting. Many in the military think that the standards of quality have been reduced because of recruiting shortfalls but that Montgomery is correct in saying the bill would make recruiting even more difficult by introducing more competition.
The military also is concerned about the practical problems. Only a limited number of two-year service soldiers could be employed effectively because many jobs require extensive training. The higher turnover rates with training also increase costs for training and transportation, among other costs.
Sen. Mitchell thought it appropriate to "redefine the social contract" between government and citizenry. As a friendly neighborhood philosopher is fond of pointing out, such a contract is rightly formed among the citizens, not between the citizens on the one hand and the government on the other. One also can raise the issue of whether the government has the power, let alone the ability, to dispose of its citizens productive energies in what might be make-work schemes of arguable social desirability. Conscription is enforced in the "socialist" oligarchies of Eastern Europe as well as most of the welfare democracies of Western Europe, but it has not worn well in this country. Whether it will do so under the guise of voluntarism remains to be seen, but the Democratic Leadership Council seem determined to find out.
Students, particularly those with younger brothers and sisters, may want to find out what their local senators and representatives think about this bill.
■ Dick Lipsey is a Lawrence graduate student in journalism.
Visiting prof calls Kansan best teacher
The Kansan is my best teacher at the University of Kansas. I have been reading it since I came here. I have learned a lot more from it than from any text.
When I studied English in China, I learned English that applied to daily life. I learned only a few words about politics and economics. And I never learned words about racism or sports. However, the Kanans provides me with a good variety of articles that cover almost all areas. No textbook can compare with it as far as the range of words is concerned.
Foreign students who want to learn something from the Kansan should plan to read it every day. Do not just skim it and throw it away.
Each month, I have put emphasis on a different area. Every day I read one article concerning something about which I am most interested. At the same time, I usually make some notes about words I think are important. Sometimes I also like to take down some long, complicated sentences. Every morning, I read all those words and sentences to remember them. During the month, I can familiarize myself with almost all the words associated with a topic. Little by little, month by month, I accumulated a lot of words I thought were important. Obviously, I have
Xiaodi
Shi
Guest columnist
broadened my English vocabulary.
Learning the English language is not the only reason I read the Kansan. I want to learn of American society and of the significant things that happen in the United States. As a student, the Kansan articles last fall during the presidential race gave me a vivid picture of how the campaign was going.
I already have learned a lot from these unknown teachers — the Kansan editors and reporters. Their language is vigorous and full of vitality because most of them are young people. Their language mirrors the features of modern English.
The Kansan also appears to be a good practicing place for students in the School of Journalism working as reporters. I am sure, with the theory studied in their textbooks and the added reporting practice they get on the Kansan, the students will be competent to write for all kinds of
newspapers. I don't know much about the journalism departments of universities in my country, but if I have a chance to talk with them after return to my country, I well tell them about the Kansan. My thanks to all those who work on the newspaper.
And I would like to sincerely thank the professors and teachers who have helped me. During nine months of studying English at KU, I have received warm and earnest help from them. The teachers in the Applied English Center have impressed me deeply. They are friendly toward foreign students and teach seriously. Charles A. Sauer, Emeritus assistant director, now is helping me with my listening ability. I have learned not only from his English, but also from his serious and conscientious attitude toward his job. Peter Casagrande, professor of English, also has given me a lot of advice about how to choose courses. Thanks to all the professors of the department of English who have given me a lot of unforgettable help.
Xiaodi Shi is a lecturer at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications and is a visiting scholar to the English Department of the University of Kansas.
BLOOM COUNTY
by Berke Breathed